December 25: Luke 2 1-14

Key Verse: Luke 2 11
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Devotion:
The author of this gospel gives us an historical account of what happened over two thousand years ago (though probably not this exact day!) Caesar Augustus send out a new law saying everyone needed to be taxed once again, just as Cyrenius had done when he was governor of Syria. But in order for everyone to be taxed he wanted them all to go to their own towns and cities where their family line came from… this was because the people would have kept fairly good ancestral records.

Joseph’s family came from Bethlehem which was a fair old distance from Galilee, the city of Nazareth, where he was currently living. Now, his fiancé, Mary was pregnant and would not really have wanted to make such an arduous journey at that time of her pregnancy; but Joseph was a man who wanted to do the right thing and knew it had to be done.

When they got to Bethlehem they found they were either not welcome or there was simply no more room in any of the inns. They had to take what they could get and that was a lowly stable. Some time later, we are not sure how long afterward, Mary was ready to have the child and Jesus was born. She wrapped Him in whatever was to hand – simple cloths – and laid Him in the closest thing they had for a cot, a manger!

A bunch of shepherds living in nearby fields were visited by an angel, much to their initial fright. The angel told them to go down into Bethlehem where they would find a new-born baby laying in a manger and wrapped in cloths. The angel said this was Christ the Lord, their Messiah! Then a whole lot of angels appeared singing and praising God “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth and good will toward all men!” This was the welcome for Jesus Christ into our world, not just for the Jews, but for all mankind! The stories the prophets had told were coming true and the lowest people in that society, the shepherds, were the first to be told of this amazing thing!

Points to Ponder:
Have you welcomed Jesus Christ into your life?

A very Merry Christmas to you all with God’s richest blessings!